PA president comes under pressure from anti-normalization movement in Ramallah.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas canceled a pre-Rosh Hashana toast
with more than 30 ministers and Knesset members that was set for Tuesday because
he came under pressure from the anti-normalization movement in
Ramallah.

Abbas invited the Knesset’s Caucus on Ending the Israeli- Arab
Conflict to his headquarters in Ramallah after a Palestinian delegation was
greeted by 30 MKs and ministers and a Palestinian flag at the Knesset on July
31. That meeting emphasized the need to have a show of force in Ramallah to
boost the nascent Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Statements released by the PA and caucus head Hilik Bar (Labor)
blaming the cancellation on Fatah party meetings and the American strike on
Syria that has been delayed to next week at the earliest, were greeted with
derision by both Palestinian officials and MKs.

But Bar said those were
the reasons the Palestinians gave him and that they promised the meeting would
be held soon.

“I told the Palestinians that if this is not the ideal
time, we can do it after the holidays,” Bar said. “I want the president [Abbas]
to feel comfortable and hold the meeting in the best environment
possible.”

Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid decided last week to bar the 19
Knesset members in his faction from attending the meeting because it would
weaken Israel’s side in ongoing negotiations with the Palestinians. He said
attending the event would be counterproductive and could undercut Israel’s
position.